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Friday, May 31, 2013

When I last posted, darkness was closing in. I had no physical center... no norm of routine or place of regularity. My one point, one light in the darkness, was my heavenly Father-my savior Christ.

But that is all we need.

It takes one break in the clouds - one ray of light - for a rainbow to form. When the one above occurred shortly after we re-positioned behind the church God led us to here in Billings, we wondered if it was the Promise of Hope and things to come.

I still don't have a lot of routine, regularity or physical center. But I have His Promise. We met with the pastor here, at what is now to become our Home Church, and learned of a need that reflected God's handy-work... God's equipping of months - no - years past.

It was the light that grew brighter in the darkness. The rainbow which became more vivid before our eyes.

I am back. Still searching for the working schedule, still in transition, but God has shown me... even in the mess of life, HE is still in control and I have to share my awareness of that... I am called to declare his glory not just in big ways... but in small ways too.

May you see the rainbows through the storms. May light overtake darkness in those far away places of your life today.

Friday, May 10, 2013

As Mother's Day weekend approaches, the word does not insight for me what many moms will probably be writing about today.

Yes my comfort use to be curled in the rocker with a a baby in one arm and a toddler in the other. Oh how I loved those baby days.

My comfort is still sometimes my 10 year old, still the 'baby' of the family, curled up in my arms as we read or watch a movie or just talk.

But today, this day, my comfort is in being almost home. The long journey that has taken us far and wide. First to live in a home not my own for more than a year and a half and then to travel the country on God's errands. My 'home' is mine again, a small 26 foot, 30 year old RV. Comfort comes in knowing the roof over my head is God's roof, not someone else's.

Comfort in seeing Him provide for our needs and comfort in finally being still... for a time... as we transition into a new "home".

Oh, the house and the walls may not be here yet. In time, though, they will be. Our wheels and 26 feet of space and hook up outside a warm and inviting church make the transition easy... comfortable.

The comfort of knowing that following where HE leads, whether it be Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, Africa, Asia, or just.simply. Montana.... my comfort is in the Lord

It sounds cliche. But when you travel and trust and hand your life over to His will instead of your own... it isn't cliche at all. It is Truth.

Comfort in Truth.

Comfort in surroundings found through Him.

This is 5-minute Friday. If you would like, join me over at Lisa Jo's blog, slip in with your 5 minutes on Comfort... whether your ponderings are cliche or not!

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

She came to me, heart aching, this has been a long journey for her too. A growing journey. A learning journey. She learned how prayer builds bridges. She learned how crying hearts can hold each other up, pointed to heaven. She learned... how to strum the six melodic strings of a simple little guitar. To strum them where tunes carry recognition and voice can be entwined to make beautiful song.

She spoke slowly at first, the conversations with God weighing heavy on her heart. "I feel Led to sing a song for the congregation the Sunday before we leave."

Led.
She only glimpsed led before we left the Big Sky state 8 months before. Now she touched the robe of her savior, knowing all hope, all healing, all guidance came at that hem... led by Him.

I encouraged her to give me a preview, a mother's heart wanting to protect her budding artist. What if she isn't good enough? What if she isn't ready. How do I help her. I couldn't let her know what I thought... but I had to know if she was ready. Surely 4 months of practice didn't make her ready... yet.
Her fingers clasped the hard plastic of her favored Nashville pick purchased with her own saved pennies and dollars at one particular turning point on this long long journey. Hands strummed, voice lifted, this mother's eyes could not stay dry. When did my little girl become a young lady... a beautiful song- heart stirring- Christ-centered lady?

I blinked, moments and years trickled down my cheek. It is beautiful... I pledged help to see her feet step up on stage.

Others pledged and drew up alongside as well...

A Christ-centered woman encouraged a right heart the day before God's glory shined through to a congregation.

Little sister listened on as practice and pre-show performance in the home of a friend reminded us all of the treasure God had placed within our midst.

The day came. Soundboard issues and feedback aside, she lifted her eyes and heart to be used by Him... to speak words to a congregation both for and from. Her young years masked by ages of experience. Dry eyes were few when she finished.

This journey which has brought us to a new home has made us all weary. A good weary. A great-is-our-God-I-will-weary-myself-for-Him... weary. So we all sing with her young voice....

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart
That’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause I’m worn

It was a hard worn which transformed... a revitalizing worn which has marked. I pray the weathered and worn places in your life will find renewal and re-birth in His hands and prayers lifted in hope.

Hello and Welcome! I'm Amanda, mom to four absolute blessings and wife to a husband who still makes my heart skip a beat just with a smile! I am a child of God, seeking to live missionally for His Glory. Faith and Home (formally Faithful Homeschool) is a reflection of all the tender and dear things which come to my heart. I hope you will find tid-bits here to cheer yours!